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MOTION PICTURE CENSORS* AND REVIEWERS* MANUAL 



A Handbook for the Instruction and Use of 
State and City Boards of Censors of 
Motion Pictures, Producers and 
Distributors, Citizen Motion 
Picture Councils, Better 
Films Committees, Women's 
Clubs and Parent-Teacher 



Compiled, Arranged and Edited 
By 

FREDERICK REX, 
Librarian \ 
Municipal Reference Library 
City of Chicago 



Copyright - 1934 



Published by 

HOME STUDY CIRCLE 
P.O. Box Four 
Hubbard Woods, Illinois 



Organizations 




TABLE OF CONTENTS 



Pages 

Standards of 

(a) Motion Picture Producers and Distributors 

of America 1 - 4 

(b) National Board of Censorship of Motion 

Pictures \ 4 - 14 

(c) Kansas State Board of Censors 14 - 15 

(d) Maryland State Board of Motion Picture 

Censors 15 - 16 

(e) New York State Motion Picture Commission . 16 

(f) Pennsylvania State Board of Censors 16 - 18 

(g) Chicago Board of Moving Picture Censors . . 13-20 

(h) Pasadena (Cal.) City Reviewer of Motion 

Pictures 20 - 21 

(i) Portland (Ore.) Board of Motion Picture 

Censors 21 - 25 

Ordinance regulating the exhibition and censor- 
ship of motion pictures in the city of Chicago, 25 - 28 

Specimen questions of previous civil service 
examinations for censor of motion pictures ... 28 - 34 

Outline of duties and minimum qualifications 
of censor of motion pictures 34 



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Scanned from the collections of 
The Library of Congress 




Packard Campus 
for Audio Visual Conservation 
www.loc.gov/avconservation 

Motion Picture and Television Reading Room 
www.loc.gov/rr/mopic 

Recorded Sound Reference Center 
www.loc.gov/rr/record 



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vA PRODUCTION CODE AND UNIFORM INTERPRETATION STANDARDS OF THE MOTION 
a, PICTURE PRODUCERS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF AMERICA INCORPORATED. 

General Principles. 

(1) No picture shall be produced which will lower the moral standards of 
A those who see it* Hence, the sympathy of the audience should never 

be thrown to the side of crime, wrong-doing, evil or sin* 



(2) Correct standards of life, subject only to the requirements of drama 
and entertainments, shall be presented. 

(3) Law, natural or human, shall not be ridiculed, nor shall sympathy be 
created for Its violation* 

Particular Applications. 

I. Crimes Against the Law 

These shall never be presented in such a way as to throw sympathy 
with the crime as against law and justice or to inspire others with 
a desire for imitation* 



If) 



2 



(1) Murder 

(a) The technique of murder must be presented in a way that will not 

inspire Imitation* 

(b) Brutal killings are not to be presented in detail* 

(c) Revenge in modem times shall not be justified. 

(8) Methods of Crime should not be explicitly presented. 

Ca) Theft, robbery, safe-cracking and dynamiting of trains, mines, 
buildings, etc., should not be detailed in method. 

(b) Arson must be subject to the same safeguards. 

(c) The use of firearms should be restricted to essentials. 

(d) Methods of smuggling should not be presented. 

(3) Illegal drug traffic must never be presented. 

(4) The use of liquor in American life, when not required by the plot or 
for proper characterization, will not be shown. 



II* Sex 

The Sanctity of the institution of marriage and the home shall be up- 
held* 

Pictures shall not infer that low forms of sex relationship are the 
>^ accepted or common thing. 

\X) Adultery, sometimes necessary plot material, must not be explicitly 
treated, or justified, or presented attractively. 

*t8) Scenes of Passion 

(a) They should not be Introduced when not essential to the plot, 
fb) Excessive and lustful kissing, lustful embraces, suggestive 

postures and gestures, are not to be shown, 
(c) m general, passion should so be treated that these scenes do 
not stimulate the lower or baser element* 



r (3) Seduction or Rape 

(a) They should never be- more than suggested, and only when essential 
for the plot, and even then never shown by explicit method. 



(b) They are never the proper subject for comedy* Page 2*. 

(4) Sex Perversion or any inference to it is forbidden* 

(5) White Slavery shall not be treated.. 

(6) Miscegenation (sex relationships between the white and black races) 
is forbidden* 

(7) Sex Hygiene and venereal diseases are not subjects for motion pic- 
tures* 

(8) Scenes of Actual Childbirth, in fact or in silhouette, are never to 
be presented* 

(9) Children's Sex Organs are never to be exposed* 

III Vulgarity 

The treatment of low, disguting, unpleasant, though not necessarily 
evil, subjects should be subject always to the dibtate of good taste 
and a regard for the sensibilities of the audience* 

IV Obscenity 

Obscenity in word, gesture, reference, song, joke, or by suggestion 
(even when likely to be understood only by part of the audience) is 
f orbidden* 

^ V Profanity 

Pointed profanity (this includes the words: God, Lord, Jesus, Christ- 
unless used reverently - Hell, S*0*B*, damn, Gawd), or every other 
profane or vulgar expression however used, is forbidden* 

VI Costume 

Complete nudity is never permitted*, This includes nudity in fact or 
in silhouette, or any lecherous or licentious notice thereof by other 
characters in the picture* 

(2) Undressing scenes should be avoided, and never used save where essen- 
tial to the plot* 

(3) Indecent or undue exposure is forbidden* 

(4) Dancing costumes intended to permit undue exposure or indecent move- 
ments in the dance are forbidden* 

VII Dances 

(1) Dances suggesting or representing sexual actions or indecent passion 
are forbidden* 

(2) Dances which emphasize indecent movements are to be regarded as ob- 
scene* 

4< VIII Religion 

(1) No film or episode may throw ridicule on any religious faith* 

(2) Ministers of religion in their character as ministers of religion 
should not be used as comic characters or as vlllians. 

(3) Ceremonies of any definite religion should be carefully and respect- 
fully handled* 



IX Locations Page 3* 

The treatment of bedrooms must be governed by good taste and delicacy, 

X National feelings 

(1) The use of t he flag shall be consistently respectful* 

(2) The history, institutions, prominent people and citizenry of other na- 
tions shall be represented fairly,. 

XI Titles 

Salacious, indecent, or obscene titles shall not be used* 

XII Repellent Subjects, 

The following subjects must be treated within the careful limits of 
good taste:- 

Cl) Actual hangings or electrocutions as legal punishments for crime* 

(2) Third Degree methods, 

(3) Brutality and possible gruesomeness, 

(4) Branding of people or animals, 

(5) Apparent cruelty to children or animals* 

. (6) The sale, of women, or a woman selling her virtue* 
(7) Surgical operations, 

AN ADVERTISING CODE 
To reflect the High Quality of Motion Pictures 
Adopted by the 

MOTION PICTURE PRODUCERS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF ANERICA INCORPORATED* 

The provisions of the Code shall apply to press books, newspaper advorT 
tising, trailers, outdoor display, novelty distribution, and all forms of 
motion picture exploitation, 77e urge all motion picture th^ttre advertisers, 
whether affiliated with the undersigned or not, to adhere to these prin- 
ciples: 

(1) We subscribe to the Code of Business "Ethics of the International Ad- 
vertising Association, based on '♦truth , honesty and integrity 

(2) Good taste shall be the guiding rule of motion picture advertising. 

(3) Illustrations and text in advertising shall faithfully represent the 
pictures themselves, 

(4) No false or misleading statements shall be used directly, or implied 
kv type arrangements or by distorted quotations, 

£ (5) No text illustration shall ridicule or tend to ridicule any religion 
or religious faith; no illustration of a character 'in clerical garb 
shall be shown in any but a respectful manner. 



fit ■/» 1 



Peg© 4* 

C6) The history, institutions and nationals of all countries shall be re- 
presentated with fairness. 

CO Profanity and vulgarity shall be avoided* 

(B) Pictorial and copy treatment of officers of the law shall not be of 
such a nature as to undermine their authority. 

(9) Specific details of crime, inciting imitations, shall not be used* 

(10) Motion picture advertisers shall bear in mind the provision of the 
Production Code that the use of liquor in American life shall be re- 
stricted to the necessities of characterization and plot* 

(11) Nudity with meretricious purpose, and salacious postures, shall not 
be used* 

(12) Court action relating to censoring of pictures, or other censorship 
disputes, are not to be capitalized in advertising* 



EXTRACTS FROM *TH2 STANDARDS OF THE NATIONAL BOARD 
OF CENSORSHIP OF MOTION PICTURES* 

(Pages 10 to 23) 



Pictures Must 3e Judged As a Whole. 

Pictures have to be fudged as a whole with a view to the final total 
effect they will have upon the audiences, and the censor should remember 
that pictures should not be condemned because of some little incident in 
them. Occasionally even an incident which is objectionable per se is used 
in such a manner in the picture that it becomes merely tributary to the 
principal idea which may be good. The Board does not approve of a picture 
which lauds an evil deed as a commendable incident in bringing about.a 
good one* On the other hand, it passes pictures occasionally where an evil 
incident is instrumental in bringing about a good, provided that such e- 
vil incident is not held up as being excusable or commendable under the 
circumstances. This means that the incident must be purely incidental and 
not one of the features of the story to be remembered and emulated* 

How Far The National Board iS Re- 
sponsible For Truth In The Pictures* 

The National Board has repeatedly stated that it holds itself in no- 
wise responsible for the truth or falsity of the pictures or the incidents 
in them* This statement, however, should be modified somewhat. The Board 
has ruled that it will^not pass pictures which would tend to influence pub- 
lic opinion on questions of fact in any matter that is before the courts 
for adjudication. The real ground for condemning the pictures of this type, 
is, of course, not that they are true or false, but rather that they would 
tend to distort the process of law* There has been some question as to 
whether pictures which are inaccurate and untruthful in pertraying a re- 



page 5* 

ligious subject should be passed* The principle followed is (as set forth 
in the section on sacrilege,) that if the passing of the picture make for 
sacrilege _vr the weakening of the moral fibre of the audience, it should be 
condemned, but otherwise should be passed* in general however, The Board 
totally disregards the truth or falsity of pictures,. 

•-^Sectional, National, And Class 
Prejudices And The Censorship* 

Many of the criticisms of motion pictures and their censorship have 
their foundation in local prejudice* Practically uniform though the people 
of the United States are in most of their ideas, political, social, and 
moral, there are yet certain striking differences, and these differences 
naturally are much in evidence in the comments on motion pictures* For ex- 
ample, the treatment accorded to different races in motion pictures is re- 
ceived in vastly different manners in different sections of the country, 
and there are certain customs which are looked upon as being outside of 
the field of morals in certain sections wmile in others they are consid- 
ered fundamentally questions of morality* Different economic classes also 
have prejudices which are unique to themselves* Likewise, too, the United 
States as such has certain prejudices, and every business and profession 
has certain points of view, certain prejudices from which all others are 
free*. Now all these prejudices and different points of view make it im- 
possible or at least inexpedient to pass upon pictures in a purely ration- 
al manner according to certain principles theoretically conceived* Through 
the force of circumstances the Board is compelled to steer a middle course 
in an effort to adhere as closely as possible to the rationally conceived 
principles for which it stands, and yet pay sufficient regard to popular 
prejudice* By so interpreting its duty between the new art and public o- 
pinion it hopes to cause public opinion to be impressed upon the film art, 
while at the same time the film art is interpreted in such a manner as to 
change public opinion*. 

The Censor who comes to the Board, however, with certain preconceived 
prejudices, certain points of view because of his environment and previous 
experience, should constantly be on his guard against allowing such person- 
al, sectional, class, or professional prejudices unduly to influence his 
censorship decisions* 

The Exploitation Of Notorious Characters*. 

The Board does not, in judging films, allow itself to be influenced by 
the moral character of persons who may be concerned in the production or 
acting of the films* But the Board does retain the right to forbid, at its 
discretion, the exploitation of unworthy reputations, such as the morbid 
representation of perspns who may have been associated with famous criminal 
cases* If the picture is merely a news picture without dramatic plot, how- 
ever, i+ should be passed even though the person expioited has gained an 
evil notoriety* Occasionally a "fake" news picture or dramatic picture 
founded upon a current event is made... m judging the merits of such a pic- 
ture, it is well to consider that its effect upon the public will be dif- 
ferent from what would be the case ^ere the same drama entirely divorced 
from the event upon which it may be founded* This is because it comes at a 
time when the public mind is in a condition where certain deeds, character, 
or experiences have an unusual significance* Such a picture will often cast 
a glamor around the person or persons involved* Thereby it becomes object- 
ionable in setting up for emulation a person of unworthy character. In no 



Page 6. 

case would the National Board pass a picture which glorified or excused 
the evil doer, or otherwise affected public opinion on a matter before 
the courts for adjudication. 

Consideration And Comparison 
Of Custom, Taste And Morals. 

One of the things which occasionally causes the National Board to be 
considered inconsistent is that there are many deeds depicted in motion 
pictures which are sometimes a matter of custom, sometimes of taste, and 
sometimes of morals* Often they are one thing in one section of the coun- 
try and something different in another. When they appear, in the particu- 
lar picture under discussion, to belong in the categories of custom or 
taste to such an extent that they are entirely divorced from morals, they 
are, of course, passed by the National Board. If they raise a question of 
morals, they have to be considered as .a matter of morals, not of custom 
or taste; and the action taken may be exactly opposite from the action of 
the Board, ori precisely the same deed in another picture where no question 
of morals entered. In all these instances, however, the Board tries to be 
consistent with its basic principles even though the action taken seems 
most inconsistent to the unthinking* 

Sacrilege And Allied subjects.- 

Probably no normal person will question the decision of the National 
Board to repress sacrilege, even though it is perhaps as much a question 
of bad taste as bad morals. The feeling of reverence for certain things 
or forces accounted sacred by them is deepseated in all men- Nov? anything 
that is so vital as this is a legitimate subject for motion pictures, but 
because of its very nature, it requires unusually careful treatment. 
Farce, burlesque, possibly melodrama, indeed all treatment of such sub- 
jects which is actuated by levity or any other than a serious purpose is 
altogether out of place in this connection, and is most consistently dis- 
couraged by the National Board. 

It is a much more difficult thing to determine just what is sacri- 
lege. The general principle followed by the Board is that those things 
which shock the religious sensibilities of large and representative por- 
tions of the population should be forbidden, especially if the sacrilege 
be intentional. This does not mean the elimination of all the minor things 
which run counter to the religious prejudices of a portion of the peopie, 
but only those things which actually tend to weaken the religious spirit 
or profane sacred things or bring them into contempt or disrepute. It is 
not in itself sufficient ground for condemning an incident that it is not 
true; to condemn it, it must be shown that it will have an injurious ef- 
fect upon the audience. 

Bar Rooms, Drinking, And Drunkenness. 

One of the perplexing problems in censorship is what to do with the 
interminable procession of bar-room scenes, drinking, and -drunkenness in 
motion pictures. They have a legitimate place in the motion picture drama, 
but the objection lies in the proportion they bear to all other scenes. 
Obviously this cannot be rationally remedied by enforcing censfirship re- 
strictions against some of them, though it can be influenced no doubt by 
helpful suggestions given in a co-operative spirit. This is done from 
time to time by the Board. The proportion of these scenes must be regu- 
lated in the final analysis, however by whajt the public shows it likes 
or dislikes* Already the public »s dislike for being deluged with scenes 



Page 7* 



of this character is making itself known so that this offense against good 
taste and sense will be righted in the not distant future* Certain types of 
drama require such scenes to give them realism and local color, and to these 
in moderation the National Board can rationally take no exceptions. Such 
scenes must be used with discretion and made of significance in the drama. 
Scenes of this type are discouraged by the National Board* and if.it need 
be, condemned. 

Occasionally producers essay to Use drunkenness as a source of amuse- 
ment, especially as farce or burlesque* m general, the Board has condemned 
this* If, however, the farce and ridiculousness of the situation so. far 
outshadow the intoxication that the latter is forgotten, pictures have 
sometimes been passed even though intoxication was the basis of the amuse- 
ment. Few producers and actors can handle the subject inoffensively, and 
the tendency of the Board is more and more to eliminate such scenes alto- 
gether . 

Vulgarity m Pictures * 

Exasperating though vulgarity is in photoplays, the National Board 
considers that this question is not one properly handled by censorship 
methods providing morals be not outraged* The Board makes a construct- 
ive report to the producers each week on all films, and these comments, 
of course, give the attitude of the Board on questions of vulgarity in 
specific pictures* These reports, together with the occasional bulletins 
issued by the Board to the producers, are gradually correcting this of- 
fense against good sense and decency*. The real difficulty- is that the 
poorer type of producer mistakes vulgarity for wit* When the general pub- 
lic makes known at the theatres in unmistakable terms its disgust at the 
exploiting of vulgarity, we may look for a reversal of policy on the part 
of these manufacturers who now, in picturing vulgarity, cater to what they 
profess to believe the public wants* This reform is being accelerated by 
the fact that all manufacturer es are now making an effort to produce pic- 
tures which will appeal to the cultured portion of the public as well as 
the less cultured* Vulgarity which is divorced from immorality is not a 
legitimate subject for censDrship other than that of the slow working of 
public opinion; and unless the vulgarity closely borders on immorality or 
indecency, the National Board feels compelled to ignore it* The same is true 
of inanity also* 

prolonged Passionate Love Scenes* 

One of the reforms established by the National Board has been the cur- 
tailment of prolonged love scenes* Even now -some of the love scenes in mo- 
tion picture dramas are sickishly sentimental and not the expression or a 
compelling emotion* But evil suggestion has been eliminated* though the ef- 
fect of some of the present love scenes on the better class of audience is 
often unpleasant. ' If these experiences are treated truthfully, sympatheti- 
cally, and artistically, there is no objection to their being shown* Such 
is frequently not the case* The National Board believes that it is one of 
the purposes of censorship to keep out of the mire the great experiences 
of humanity so that they may be not cheapened to the extent of losing 
their significance* To this extent, the National Board is responsible for 
taste in the pictures, though it only steps in when there is unquestioned 
need for its doing so* For the most part, the National Board assumes no 
responsibility for the taste, as such, displayed in the picture* A gradual 
raising of the standards on this type of photoplay is to be expected through 



Page 8* 

the constructive reports of the National Board and the Influences of the 
better class of audiences who are filling many of the theatres* 

Costuming - Tights And Hi- 
sufficient Clothing*. 

The attitude of the National Board towards the indecent costuming of 
characters in a photodrama is easily understood, but calls for some state- 
ment of principle* The Board recognizes that there is nothing innately im- 
moral or indecent in nudity or any stage between complete clothing and nud- 
ity » Questions of immorality and indecency arise in connection with nudes 
and unusual costuming because of the accompanying action together with the 
operation of the phychological fact of the association of ideas in the 
minds of the spectators. Real savages in their native dress and surround- 
ings and pursuing their normal functions would be suggestive to nobody* but 
would be suggestive if these conditions were not true, or if the savages 
were performing some suggestive dance* On th# other hand, it is impossible 
to pass pictures of women almost wholly dressed, but yet displaying a la- 
vish amount of lingerie* The same thing is true of women's dress where it 
is too much decollete* In both of these cases, convention is disregarded, 
and through the habit of association becomes unavoidably suggestive of in- 
decency or immorality* It is simply because of custom and habits of thought 
that certain kinds of dress under conditions inevitably suggest evil* 

Masculine and feminine psychology are different in questions of this 
type, and for this reason, among others, the National Board does ita best 
to have a representation of both sexes on all its committees, and on' its 
General Committee tries to balance them very closely* As a general rule 
picturing women's forms will start an association of Ideas in masculine 
minds which from the very nature of things no woman can experience; while 
on the other hand it appears that women make better censors of those pic- 
tures in which the actresses are treated with excessive familiarity* 

Frank exposure of the person is much less objectionable than the ex- 
posure which is partly hidden and partly, revealed. To the adolescent youth 
and adult of arrested development, the mere fact that the costuming of a 
woman displays portions of her body usually concealed awakens the imagina- 
tion and becomes suggestive of immorality and indecency* Especially is this 
true if the surroundings in which the scantily dressed characters are placed 
are unusually suggestive* The producers sometimes allege that true art 
calls for the particular costume chosen, but if the Board thinks that the 
art is pat in to carry the Immorality over, or that the Immorality is more 
effective than the art, it considers that it is its duty to condemn the 
picture* In these questions of decency the Board leans toward the conser- 
vative side* 

infidelity And 
Sex Problem Plays* 

This type is very common with certain companies and especially with 
the companies whose productions are made in Europe* The National Board 
has never denied that this is a legitimate subject for the motion picture* 
but it has insisted that it be treated with seriousness and artistic re- 
serve* 

Women Smoking And Drinking* 



As was explained in the section on the comparison of custom, taste, 



Page 9- 

and morals, there are contain acts. which are sometimes a question of cua- 
torn, sometimes of taste, and sometimes of morals* One example 6f this is 
the: question ofwomen r s smoking and drinking* To the women of certain na- 
tionalities and places j it is a fltatter of custom altogether, and the pic- 
tures would be untrue without it; to women of other places, it is a mat- 
ter of taste, that is, it is no longer a question of morals with them and 
yet* is not Crystallized into custom; and to the women of ye V other places, 
it is esteemed a matter of morals* In judging pictures the National Board 
takes these facts into consideration* The National Board disapproves of 
showing a good woman doing what would be considered a bad thing by the co- 
ciety of which she forms a part, for this kind of disregard of convention- 
al morality tends or itself to break down the moral fibre of the people* 
Practically the matter of women's smoking and drinking in a picture resolv- 
es itself into a question of whether in the particular instance it is a 
question of custom, taste, or morality*. If it is found to be a question of 
taste, the picture has to be Judged entirely on its own merits, the place 
the incident occupies in the picture and the final total effects of the 
picture being the determining factors* 

Underworld Scenes r -Opium Joint s* 

Gambling* Dance Halls And Objectionable 

Dances, Vulgar flirtations, Questionable Resorts* 

The National Board requires that when scenes of the general type 
listed aboire are produced, it be in such a manner that no spectator is 
stimulated to attempt to duplicate them or similar scenes* For this res- 
on, permanent profit or enjoyment should not be shown as accompanying 
characters in these scenes^ rather their true characters as being in- 
nately low, vulgar, and indecent should be brought out together with the 
inevitable results to which they lead*. Their sordid nature must be kept 
in the minds of the spectators, and the scenes themselves must have dram- 
atic usefulness in the play and not be introduced as so much padding or 
vaudeville entertainment,. The public does not approve of debauches, and 
the Board will not tolerate a vicarious participation int them*. The Board 
requires that when the 1 portrayal of" scenes of this type is necessary to 
the development of a legitimate story, it be truthful and complete so that 
no false notion of glamour, or romantic adventure lead anyone to misappre- 
hend the true character of such scenes, but rather show the essential sor- 
didness, shallowness, discontent, and commercialism on which these scenes 
rest, and the characters in them*. Tf produced with a proper purpose, these 
scenes are usually moral in effect, but if produced merely for entertain- 
ment, they are immoral, and will be eliminated* Care should be exercised not 
to have more of such scenes than the dramatic necessities require* 

As a rule it is preferable to have scenes short, both for the sake of 
morality and because the art is often greatest when unessential detail is 
suppressed to bring out the main impression*. In gambling scenes, for in- 
stance, what is sought is the atmosphere of the place, development of the 
characters, and certain salient facts such as who is winner, rather than 
the details of the particular gambling method used* 

Ih dance hall scenes where objectionable dancing is taking place, it 
is well to make the scene sketchy and avoid suggestively instructive details, 
TO prolong such scenes beyond the needs of clear exposition is to invite e- 
limination*. 

Vulgar flirtations should be avoided unless necessary to the develop- 
ment of the characters, and then only enough should be shewn to make the ex- 



i 



page 10* 

pas-ition of the story clear; to do more than this is gratuitously to out- 
rage the public sense of decency* The same istrue of street solicitation, 
and neither of these subjects should be used as a basis for comedy* 

In questionable resort scenes the purpose of the producer and the Ef- 
fect attained must guide the censor* If essential to the story and the 
story itself be permissible, it would seem that such scenes should be. per- 
mitted;, but they must be handled with the very greatest of care and only 
enough shown to make the exposition of the story clear and give the pro- 
per atmosphere. Without these scenes a comprehensive study of character de- 
velopment, which is one of the legitimate functions of the motion picture, 
would be impossible in some of the more pretentious plays* This matter, how- 
ever, is so difficult to handle that it most often results in failure and 
consequently has to be eliminated* Jn principle, however, such scenes un- 
der certain conditions are permissible, but it is a subject that the Board 
cautions all producers against attempting* Of course, such scenes have to 
be made intellectually suggestive without being made physically stimula- 
ting and suggestive* The real objection to picturing these scenes is that 
under the present organization of the motion picture business these pic- 
tures are shown to both adults and children* The Hoard therefore, has re- 
quired that when these scenes are produced they be made unintelligible to 
children. 

Deeds Of Violence* 

Coincident though the drama rightfully is with life itself, there 
are certain classes of experience for which the silent drama is not par- 
ticularly adapted in its present stage of development* For finesse in 
character studies, emotional subtleties, and the more complex phycholo- 
gical records, the words of the regular stage are better adapted* Con- 
sequently the more striking experiences from life are especially empha- 
sized in the photodraraa which can convey to the understanding of the 
spectator only such expressions of emotion, character , and mind as the 
unaided eye can take cognizance of* For this reason, the motion picture 
drama emphasizes action and movement, including the deeds of violence* 
Recognizing the fact, the National Board requires that such violence be 
not degrading but rather have educational and. social value* The spirit 
of struggle at the present stage of human development is a phase of 
growth, both spiritual and physical, necessary to continue and advance 
the race, and it would be unwise to deprecate this spirit which is so 
native and essential to man* While representative individuals may view 
with aversion the actual encounter of two men in a life and death strug- 
gle* yet the Board feels that violence per se has no inherent force for 
evil, and that if the struggle is fair and does not degenerate into ex- 
cessive brutality end wanton cruelty, or show shocking detail, it should 
not condemn it* Nor has the Board felt that it could insist that the strag- 
gle be robbed of elements of treachery and trickery, nor dictate who shall 
win, now what the weapons shall be, nor even who the principals shall be, 
though it has consistently ruled against the rough handling of women and 
children- With the further development of the photo drama, it is to be ex- 
pected that less emphasis will be placed upon violence* 

The Senseless Use Of Weapons* 

Nothing in motion pictures is more exasperating than the constant 
picturing of weapons such as guns, revolvers, knives, clubs, etc, for us- 
ually there is no excuse for them. Lack of originality together with the 
tremendous demand for production leads the producer to create practically 



Page 11* 

all his Western cowboy characters, for instance, according to the recipe 
laid down in such authorities as lurid weeklies professing to portray 
frontier life In the wild West.. But unless the action depicted in addi- 
tion to being senseless, is als® immoral or criminal, the Board holds thart 
the matter should not be handled through censorship, but rather through the 
gradual protest of public opinion,. When ; however , ^frontier justice* brings 
about results contrary to those which would be secured through the regular 
agents of the law, the National Board finds that almost always it must e- 
liminate the action,, for under normal conditions, it will not pass pic- 
tures which show the successful balking of the law* Some latitude should: 
be shown perhaps to pictures of the •wild and woolly* variety where next 
to impossible deeds are pictured* The conditions are such that the motion, 
picture patron would find it practically impossible to duplicate them, and 
the whole action takes place in an atmosphere of rough romance* Thus it 
sometimes happens that the logical effect (that it is at times laudable to 
contravene the law) is lost, and the total effect of a picture, -namely 
that the forces of good triumph over the forces of evil,- warrants the 
Board in passing it* The Board disapproves of the inanity shown in the 
characters armed and discharging their guns to no purpose* Such actions 
do nothing to advance the plot of the story and possibly in the long run 
have a bad effect upon the audiences, since they engender carelessness in 
the handling of firearms* This whole matter of weapons will soon correct 
itself, aided by public opinion and the increasing strictness of the 
National Board* 



Treatment of Officer Of The Law 
And Respect For The Law. 

Pictures involving the law and officers of the law require most care- 
ful handling* There is certain value at times in showing the miscarriage 
of justice, but this needs to be handled with discretion, and the work 
should be approached in a spirit of greater seriousness than simply a- 
musement or entertainment* At the present rapid rate at which films are 
produced, this is a most difficult thing to accomplish, and the Board 
warns producers against attempting it* If, however a real moral lesson 
is taught by the play, the Board feels that it sould pass it* Ordinarily, 
however, the National Board insists upon respect for the law in action 
and in thought* 

Advisability- And Punishment 
Following Crime* 

One of the things which should be avoided is the throwing of an at- 
mosphere of romantic adventure around a criminal, especially if the time 
and place pictured suggest the possibility of reproducing the same or sim- 
ilar action, to the impressionable young people who see the picture* 

It is well, moreover, to show that evil doing brings its own reward, 
and it is usually desirable to have the catastrophe follow necessarily, 
logically, and in a convincing manner, and not merely have the catastro- 
phe accidental or providential* Of course- if the action is convincing, it 
is permissible to have retribution as an act of Divine Will or providence, 
but it frequently happens that the production is so crude that the Aveng- 
ing Providence loses all its significance* Truth and sincerity are the 
sine qua non in stick cases* As a general rule, it is certainly preferable 
to have retribution come through the hands of the authorized officers of 
the law, rather than through revenge, or other unlawful or extra-leraT 
means* The taking of the law Into one's hands is a vicious suggLtifn. 



Page 12* 

tOwrltten law and frontier justice can only be frowned upon by tne law re- 
specting and dramatically capable actor, and. producer, and the national 
Foard is apposed to the presentation altogether.. 

The Board' s Attitude 
Toward Crime.. 

The Rational Board has no objection to crimes as such, far it real- 
izes that it should not attempt to eliminate evil from the pictures, since, 
broadly speaking, that would be to destroy the drama* Serious drama, as dis- 
tinguished from comedy , farce, and burlesque almost always depicts a strug- 
gle between the forces of good on the one hand and the forces of evil on 
the other, and to eliminate either one of these elements would be very 
largely to eliminate the drama itself* Usually the forces of evil are re- 
presented by tjae villain who commits crime and seeks his ends through vio- 
lence* Accordingly the question for the. National Board is: not whether it 
will permit the committal of crime in pictures, but rather what are the 
notives and results of the crimes, and the manner in which they are per- 
formed* Tne Board objects to the display of crime being suggestive, in- 
structive, and grewsome; and it insists upon a sane balancing of the pic- 
ture as a whole so that the final effect of the picture will be good or, 
at worst, harmless* The portrayal of crime should not degenerate into pan- 
dering to a morbid appetite, but should seek ends which are legitimate for 
the drama* Clear exposition of crimes which involve tricks, skill or unus- 
ual ingenuity is not permitted* Crime has, of course, a strong dramatic 
value, but crime for crimes sake has none* 

The Hotives and The Basults of" Crime 
As Shown in Eotion Pictures* 

Btrery film presents special problems, but there are certain truths 
concerning all, and in the case of films depicting crime two of the prin- 
cipal points to be borne in mind by the censor are the motives and the re- 
sults of the crime or crimes^depicted* An adequate motive for comitting a 
crime is always desirable in a picture, and in some cases is a sine qua 
noa* The importance of discovering the motive for any crime in photoplays 
lies in the fact that the Board will insist on punishment of the criminal, 
when his crime might be considered by the £oung and impressionable specta- 
tor as an excusable act* m other cases, it* is desirable that the criminal 
be punished in some way, but the Board does not always insist upon this* 
Moreover careful discrimination must be made between the merits of the mo- 
tive and the suggestions lurking in it as an excuse for the crime* for. un- 
der no conditions, will the Board pass a picture where apparent approval is 
given of any cause for crime,' though on the other hand it must be adequate 
in the mind of the criminal to cause him to perpetrate the crime* The re- 
sults of the crimes must be in the long run disastrous to the criminal, so 
that the impression carried is that crime will inevitably find one out, 
soon or late, and bring on a catastrophe which causes the temporary gain 
from the crime to sink into insignificance* The result should ^spring logi- 
cally and convincingly from the crime, and the results should "take area*' 
sonable proportion of the 'film* The motives, incidents, and results are al- 
ways considered in censoring these pictures* 

Crimes or Violence Against 
property and persons* 

Crimes of violence may be roughly divided into crimes against proper- 
ty and those against persons* Possibly theft, fraud, forgery, burglary, 



Page 23 * 

arid robbery may be considered under the first head by a slight atret.criiag 
or the use of the terra*. In these cases the point to be guarded against ia 
that no suggestively instructive and ingenious methods be exploited, such 
as ways in which safes ean be opened, checke raised, signatures forged. etc 
These matters aan be adequately presented by suggestion or by sucti distant 
views that it is impossible to know Just what is being done* This is oft ten 
accomplished also by having the scene take place in the dark, or with the 
operation obstructed from the view of the audience by the person of one of 
the actors » 

Especially dangerous is Hie presentation of any attempt at train wreck- 
ing, and this is one of the crimes which is always eliminated by the National 
Hoard. This includes tampering with railroad apparatus* 

Arson, also, though a legitimate subject for the drama, is a difficult 
crime to present in photoplays in such a manner that the suggestion be not 
a menace to the public; all .detail of this crime is eliminated by the Board 
as being suggestive and instructive * m general the Board will rule against 
films in which a clearly defined pyromaniac is shown at work* Excessive 
preparations and the actual application of the torch are not permitted in 
films depicting arson taking place in present day modern surroundings* Ex- 
ceptions are sometimes- made in pictures dealing with disorganized communi- 
ties* The Board has consistently ruled against arsons which are used to co- 
ver up crime, or in which human beings are burned* The national Board never 
permits picturing arson as a laudable deed under any circumstances, nor as 
an act of vengeance*. The tendency of the Board is to eliminate it entirely, 
producers being constantly warned against its employment* 

Crimes of violence against persons present practically the same prob- 
lems, but in addition the question of grewsomeness enters and makes the 
work of censoring somewhat more difficult*. Especially will the Board con- 
demn a picture in which the violence is that of a maniac; and indeed it 
will condemn any film in which a maniac is a leading character and his ad- 
ventures furnish the essentials of the drama* The motion picture visual- 
izes violence for us and presents problems which the newspaper does not 
have to encounter* Therefore the National Board feels warranted in sup- 
pressing detail that the press is at liberty to employ*. For example, the 
printed word may describe an assault and murder to us with considerable 
thoroughness without being unduly grewsome, whereas if the same thing were 
done in the motion picture, it would excite horror and disgust, and unnerve 
the sensitive*. The actual deeds of violence need to be treated with the 
greatest discretion in motion pictures, and the produceer should remember 
that he is not writing -a detailed exposition of a crime, but is telling a 
dramatic story which most often needs not such detail, but merely enough 
to make clear what has happened* Thus in torture scenes, it is sufficient 
to show that torture is going to be or has been inflicted* and it is un- 
necessary and objectionable to sho^ just what the torture machine is doing, 
or the bodies of the victims writhing in agony* 

The crime of suicide is one that is so suggestive to certain people 
and so rarely passed that it needs most careful treatment by the producer, 
who would do well to avoid it altogether* The deed is so irreparable that 
even the slightest thing which can be construed as a justification of it 
and an incentive to it must be avoided* The Board may, however, consist- 
ently pass dramatic suicides- that is, suicides which are virtually neces- 
sary to the logical development of the drama, and not a means of getting 
rid of a character* The producer, however, who employs suicide as being 
the easiest method for him to get rid of a character to preserve the con- 
tinuity of hjs<irama should seek other means and use greater ingenuity to 



Page 14* 

solve his problem, as such suicides are always condemned* Even in case a 
character probably deserves some sort of self -punishment, the Board feels 
that the crime of self-destruction is such a terrible one and so full of 
suggestions that the introduction of it into motion picture could be just- 
ified only in extreme cases as in a classic, a romance of another age, his- 
toric drama, or where, being entirely unsugges'tive, it is more or less of 
an accident to another theme* The tendency of the Board is to eliminate su- 
icides altogether. 

The question of murder, including assassinations, executions, gang 
murders, and murders by individuals, presents few new problems to the cen- 
sor, and such as these are he can solve by recourse to general principles 
already stated* Common sense dictates "hat picturing the assassination of 
any person who* might be taken for some public character should be forbid- 
den. Practically all execution scenes should be merely suggested and not 
given because of their grewsomeness. In murder, the thing to be avoided 
is again suggest iveness, instruction, grewsomeness, and cold-bloodness * 
No one cares to see repeated stabbings or a body that has been mansled, 
and such portrayals are always eliminated* Near and prolonged views of 
murders are objectionable, as are also pictures of labels of poisons 
used in murders or suicides* Indeed the use of poisons, knock-out drops, 
choloforra, sleeping potions, etc., is consistently challenged by the 
Board* Just enough of murder scenes to make the exposition clear is per- 
mitted, and all else is liable to be either suggestive, instructive, or 
grewsome, and consequently to be eliminated or condemned. The producer who 
handles these subjects must needs employ caution, while keeping his story 
clear, to remain within the standards of the National Board of Censorship. 



STANDARDS OF THE KANSAS 
STATE ECARD QF CENSORS 

In rendering its decision the Board shall seek at all times to avoid 
being influenced by personal opinions, but will render such decisions as 
it believes the public desires and which will have the support and approval 
of the public generally* It shall not be the purpose of the Board at any 
time to destroy films, but to preserve them, when possible, by making cer- 
tain eliminations to conform to the following standards adopted by the 
Board, to wit: 

(A) Pictures should be clean and wholesome, and all features that tend to 
debase morals or influence the mind to improper conduct should be elim- 
inated. 

(3) Ridicule of any religious sect or peculiar characteristics of people 
will not be approved. 

(C) Evil suggestions in the dress cf comedy characters will be eliminated* 

(D) Loose conduct between men and women will be eliminated, and whenever 
possible, barroom scenes and social drinking* 

(E) A display of nude hiiman figures will be eliminated* 

(F) Crimes and criminal methods such as give instruction in crime through 
suggestion will be eliminated or abbreviated* 



page 15* 

(GF) Prolonged and passionate love scenes, when suggestive of immorality, 
will be eliminated* 

CH) Scenes of houses of ill fame, road houses and immoral dance sha lis 
will be eliminated, 

of 

(X) The theme of white slavery or allurement and betrayal/innocence will 
be disapproved* 



STANDARDS OF MARYLAND STATE BOARD 
OF MOTION PICTURE CENSORS* 



The Earyland Board of Censors has adopted no set rules and standards 
for censorship, being guided by the broad lines laid down by the law (sec, 
6, Act 1916, Chapter 209) •» The board, however, has found It desirable to 
classify reasons for all rejections and eliminations ordered by the Board 
each year in order that the censors may be guided thereby, and the work 
made as consistent as possible* 

Films are judged on their merits as a whole, with a view to the reac- 
tion on the average audience* bearing in mind always the effect on the adol- 
escent and youthful mind* With regard to the latter, the Board endeavors to 
remove all scenes and references which might excite undue curiosity in rela- 
tion to sex matters and crime, and where such scenes may not be rejected en- 
tirely, to render them unintelligible to the undeveloped mind* 

It is impossible, however , to apply the same yardstick of standards to 
every film* The underlying principle of the story, the attitude of mind of 
the director as well as the theme and scenes presented must be considered* 
Art is not governed by rules*. As elements of sex and crime are the basis of 
all literature, so the motion picture must necessarily depict the strife be- 
tween good and evil*- Sex themes handled with proper restraint are permissi- 
ble, likewise films depicting punishment of crime* 

The film which is fundamentally good, but in which has been inserted 
a scene offensive to good taste and morality, presents no difficult problem 
to the censors* But the film which is fundamentally bad, and which yet con- 
tains no scene offensive to the most observing , requires the keenest analy- 
sis and judgment* The producer is too apt to cloak his most vicious produc- 
tion in the guise of a •moral* or •problem"' play- 

Exceptions were taken for the following reasons:- 

Suggestive comedy, stories built on illicit love, over-passionate love 
scenes, attempted criminal assaults upon women, nakedness and Indecent cos- 
tumes, prostitution and interiors of disorderly houses, salacic w titles 
and captions, Inciting dancing, burning and branding of human beings, dis- 
respect for the la'?, and condonation of crime especially by officers of the 
law, deeds of violence (lighting and throwing bombs, arson, train wrecking 
hold-ups, excessive gun play, etc*.) 

Hen and women living together in adultery and without marriage, drink- 
ing and gambling scenes" made attractive, sex themes, treated without proper 
restraint, prolonged success of criminals, brutal handling of women and 



page 16» 

chi ldrwlfc brutality to animals- 

STANDARDS OF MARYLAND STATE BOARD 
OF MOTION PICTURE CENSORS 

Use of opium and other habit forming drugs, bedroom and bathroom scenes 
of an equivocal character, malpractice* venereal disease inherited or ac- 
quired, scenes indicating that a criminal assault on a woman has been per- 
petrated, gruesome murders, actual stabbing and shooting of persons, pro- 
fuse bleeding, dead bodies, harrowing death scenes, morbid presentations of 
insanity, executions and lynohings, burlesques of hanging> 

Profanity in titles, maternity scenes and women in labor, materialize 
tion of the figure of Christ,- impersonation of the Deity, stories and inci- 
dents showing disrespect for any religion, advocacy of the doctrine of free 
love, stories primarily concerned with the underworld, drugging and chlor- 
oforming victims for criminal purposes, inflammatory scenes and titles cal- 
culated to stir up racial hatred and antagonistic relations between labor 
and capital, exploitation of notorious characters- 

STANDARDS OF THE MOTION PICTURE COMMISSION 
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK* 
As Fixed by Law 

BTq martion. picture will be liaensed or a permit granted for its ex- 
hibition within the State of New York, which may be classified, or any 
part thereof, as obscene, indecent, immoral, inhuman, sacrilegious, or 
which is of such character that its exhibition would tend to corrupt mor- 
als or incite to crimes.. 

STANDARDS OF PENNSYLVANIA 
STATE BOARD OF CENSORS 



Cl) The ^oard: will condemn pictures, and parts of pictures, dealing with 
•white slavery"- The procuration and prostitution in all forms, of girls, 
and their confinement for immoral purposes may not be shown upon the screen, 
and will be disapproved- Views of prostitutes and houses of ill-fame will 
be disapproved - 

(2) Pictures, and parts of pictures, which deal with the seauction of 
women, particularly the betrayal of young girls, and assaults upon women, 
with immoral intent, will be disapproved, 

(3) FrenataT and childbed saenes, and subtitles describing them, will be 
disapproved* 

(4) Pictures, and parts of pictures, dealing with the drug habit; e-g-, 
the use of opium, morphine, cocaine, etc-, will be disapproved- The traf- 
fic in habit forming drugs is forbidden and visualized scenes of their use 
will be disapproved- 

C5) Scenes showing the modus operandi of criminals which are suggesting 
and incite to evil action, such as murder* poisoning, house-breaking, safe- 
robbery, pocket-picking, the lighting and throwing of bombs, the use of e- 
ther, chloroform, etc-, to render men and women unconscious, binding and 
gagging-, will be disapproved- 



Pager 17* 

(6) Gruesome and unduly distressing scenes will be disapproved* These in- 
clude shooting, stabbing, profuse bleeding, prolonged views of men dy- 
ing and of corpses, lashing and. whipping, and other torture scenes, 
hangings, lynchings, electrocutions, surgical operations, and views, 
of persons in delirium or insane* 

(7) Studio scenes in which the human form is shown in the nude, or the 
body is unduly exposed will be disapproved* 

(8) Pictures, and parts of pictures,, dealing with abortion and malprac- 
tice, will be disapproved* These will include themes and incidents ha- 
ving to do with eugenics, *birth control *, ••race suicide n and similar 
subjects* 

Stories, or scenes holding up to ridicule and reproach races, classes 
or other social groups, as well as the irreverent and sacrilegious 
treatment of religious bodies or other things held to be sacred will 
be disapproved* The materialization of the figure of Christ may be dis- 
approved* 

(10) pictures which deal with counterfeiting* will be disapproved.. 

Cll) Scenes showing men and women living together without marriage, and in 
adultery, will be disapproved* Discussion of the question of the con- 
summation of marriage, in pictures, will be disapproved* 

(IS) The brutal treatment 6f children and of animals may lead to the dis- 
approval of the theme, or tit incidents in film stories* 

(13) The use of profane and objectionable language in subtitles, will be 
disapproved* 

(14) Objectionable titles, as well as subtitles of pictures, will be dis- 
approved * 

(15) Tiews of incendiarism, burning, wrecking and the destruction of pro- 
perty, which may put like action into the minds of those of evil in- 
stincts, or may degrade the morals of the young, will be disapproved. 

(16) Gross and offensive drurikanhess, especially if women have a part in 
the scenes, will be disapproved. 

(17) Pictures which deal at length with gun play, and the use of knives, 
and are set in the underworld, will be disapproved. When the whole 
theme is crime, unrelieved by other scenes, the film will be disap- 
proved* Prolonged fighting scenes will be shortened, and brutal fights 
will be wholly disapproved* 

(18) Vulgarities of a gross kind, such as often appear in slapstick and o- 
ther screen comedies, will be disapproved* Comedy which burlesques 
morgues, funerals, hospitals, insane asylums, the lying in of women 
and houses of ill-fame, will be disapproved* 

(19) Sensual kissing and love making scenes, men and women in bed together 
and indelicate sexual situations, whether in comedies or pictures of 
other .classes will be disapproved* Bathing scenes, which pass the lim- 
its of propriety, lewd and immodest dancing, the needless exhibitions 



Page 18. 

of women in their night dresses or underclothing, will be disapproved* 

i(20) Views of women smoking will not be disapproved as such, but when women 
are shown in suggestive positions or their manner or smoking is suggestive 
or degrading, such scenes will be disapproved, 

(21) Pictures or parts of pictures which deal with venereal disease, of 
any kind, will be disapproved* 

(22) That the theme or story of a picture is adapted from a publication, 
whether classical or- not; or that portions of a picture follow paintings 
or other illustrations, is not a sufficient, reason for the approval of a 
picture or portions of" a picture. 

(23) Themes or incidents in picture stories, which are designed to inflame 
the mind to improper adventures, or to establish false standards of con- 
duct, coming Under the foregoing classes, or of other kinds, will be dis- 
approved* Pictures will be judged as a whole, with* a view to their final 
total effect; those portraying evil in any form which may be easily re- 
membered or emulated, will be disapproved* 

(24) Banners, posters or other advertising matter, concerning motion pic- 
tures, must follow the rules laid down for the pictures themselves. That 
which may not be used upon the screen, must not be used, to announce and 
direct public attention to the picture, in the lobby, on the street, or 
in any other form* 

STANDARDS OR RULES FOR DELETIONS fiDOPTED BY 
THE BOARD OF MOVING PICTURE CENSORS 
OF THE CITY" OF CHICAGO 



CRIMINALITY*. 

Gun Play - This to include drawing gun, aiming and shooting, . where 
the intent is to murder, rob or intimidate, or to commit any other crime 
or misdemeanor* 

Fight scenes - with knives, guns or other deac\ly weapons, to be re- 
duced to a minimum. Also throwing weapons with criminal intent,- planting 
bombs, dynamite or other explosives for the purpose of destroying life or 
property. 

Other Criminal Acts. - such as theft, holdup, robbery, slugging, 
housebreaking, criminal assaults with any weapon - binding, gagging, tor- 
ture scenes, branding of human beings. Abducting of men, women or children 
for any purpose* Safe breaking where a method is shown, poisoning(by any 
means), unlawful restraint, obstructing trains, lighting fusses or fuses 
burning. Methods of hiding crime. Mutilating bodies* Wearing masks by 
criminals . 

All Violent Fight Scenes - to be reduced in number* Acts, such as 
tearing face, choking, biting nose, ears, hands - gouging out eyes - 
knocking head against the floor or nail* Gruesome scenes of bloody and 
torn faces of dead and wounded. Attempts to extort confessions by tor- 
ture or threat of torture. 



Page 19. 

Subtitles Containing Threats - to kill, lynch, torture, mutilate, un- 
lawfully detain for ransom, or threat to criminally assault a woman* 

Scenes Showing criminal methods which would make crimes easy, attract- 
ive or heroic. 

Criminals shown in heroic roles or where sympathy is aroused in such 
a way as to excuse the act. 

Crimes committed for revenge, or for the purpose of righting a wrong, 
or the extenuation of crime for any purpose. 

Hob Scenes for the purpose of riot, lynching or burning of a human be- 
ing, or for the purpose of liberating a prisoner or obstructing justice* 

Assaults upon Officers of the Law - overcoming or restraining an offi- 
cer. 

Methods of smuggling drugs or weapons to prisoners. 

Scenes of hanging or electrocuting* Also scenes of bodies after such 

acts. 

IMMORALITY. 

Illicit relations between men and women, including- all scenes and sub- 
titles indicating such relationship* where such pictures are given a gener- 
al permit*. 

Seduction and attempt to seduce* 

Men struggling with women with immoral intent- and woman's face depict- 
ing fear or terror* 

Forcible kissing or embracing - where such acts indicate immorality or 
sensuality. Prolonged or passionate kissing scenes or acts*. 

Locking doors for the purpose of restraint for an immoral purpose; sen- 
sual looks Cor other acts indicating restrained passion or sensual desire..) 

Men or women rubbing hands over face or any portion of body of the op- 
posite sex in a lustful manner*. 

Vulgar display of figure, such as low gowns where there is indecent ex- 
posure, tight gowns and bathing suits for the purpose of indecently exploit- 
ing the figure* Also scenes where men are indecently clothed, where figure 
is offensively displayed*. 

Offensive orgy scenes - scenes of depravity and drunkenness, where men 
and women are shown together or separately* Lewd and immodest dancing* 

Rape or Assault . 

Scenes or subtitles indicating that rape or assault has been committed*. 

Discussion of illegitimacy - exploiting an illegitimate child in pic- 
tures for general distribution* 



page 20. 

Holding up the sacrifice of a woman's virtue as laudable or excusable* 
Disparagement of the institution or marriage - advocating Tree love»* 
Adoption of a life of immorality justifiable or extenuated* 

All scenes or situations depicting or indicating, immoral relations be- 
twe e n men and wome n * 

Subtitles showing that an immoral life for women is an easy way, or 
the only way under stress of circumstances,. 

Men gambling for the possession of a woman in order to obtain ransom 
for immoral purposes* 

" First night " scenes and all discussion of the question of consumma- 
tion of marriage* 

Intimate bedroom scenes between husband and wife, (underwear), where 

such scenes are suggestive of sex,. 

All scenes or subtitles indicating a house of prostitution, pandering, 
white slavery, soliciting by either men or women, or views showing prosti- 
tutes. 

Pre-natal and childbed scenes ^Subtitles describing them* All obstetri- 
cal scenes. 

Propaganda pictures featuring or discussing venereal diseases, abor- 
tion, birth control; eugenics and other similar subjects* 

All nude figures of men, women and children where sex is shown* 



STATUES 

All nude statues and pictures of the nude where sex is shown or pos- 
ture is indecent, or where such statues or pictures are shown for the pur- 
pose of indecent suggestion* 

Vulgar or suggestive acts or postures or indecent or blasphemous sub- 
titles, or undue profanity* 

Bed room and bath room scenes ot an offensive or vulgar nature* 

Men and women in bed together , where such scenes suggest indecency or 

sex*. 

Picture or scenes tending to establish false standard of conduct, 
which would tend to have a harmful, effect upon the young* 

Themes and scenes where a member of the clergy is represented as weak, 
immoral, ridiculCus or criminal* 

Scenes or subtitles which would reflect upon any ra.ce, color, creed or 
religion* 

Pasadena, California-* 
Rules for deletions adopted by the City Reviewer of Motion Pictures 



In Pasadena^ Calif orniajr- 



Fage 21 



t- No picture showing sex attraction in a suggestive or improper manner* 

2* No picture dealing with white slavery, 

3- "Stories built on, illicit love permissible only if &c- 

4- Nakedness and inciting dances eliminated.. 

5- . No prolonged passionate love scenes* 

6- No stories principally concerned with the underworld- 

7- No picture baking drunkenness or gambling attractive- 

8- No picture instructing the morally weak in crime- 
9» No incidents showing disrespect for any religion-' 
10. Unnecessary depiction of bloodshed must be avoided - 



THE FOLLOVtTING SET OF STANDARDS Y7ERE ESTABLISHED 
IN ACCORDANCE BOTH THE PROVISIONS OF ORDINANCE 110- 36945-, 
REGULATING THE CENSORSHIP AND EXHIBITION OF MOTION PICTURES 
ADOPTED BY THE CITY OF PORTLAND, OREGON IN 1917- 

The Hoard may refuse to approve any film which — 

1- Shows anything of an obscene, indecent or immoral nature- 

2- Presents any gruesome, revolting or disgusting scene or . subject* 

3* Portrays (in such manner as to offend public decency or morality) 
murder, suicide, robbery, holdup, stabbing, assaulting, clubbing 
or beating- 

4- Depicts any cruelty to human beings or animals- 

5- Exhibits methods of crime. 



6» Tends to disturb the public peace - 
The General Object of Censorship* 

The endeavor will be to abolish standards on progressive lines and to 
keep motion pictures, as. far as possible, within the best interpretation of 
the city ordinance and the demands of public opinion- This in effect will be 
to restrict to such as promise interesting, educational events, scenes or 
subjects^ pictures that afford clean, wholesome, harmless ,amusenent, and 
Will portray drama and will eliminate that which tends to debase morals, or 
teaches improper adventure through suggestion or tends to incite the mind 
to ae-ts of immorality or crime or presents false standards for character 
and conduct or shatters the better ideals of our educational, ivic and 



Page 22. 

national life* 

Bar Room Scenes, Drinking and Drunkenness * 

Bar room scenes which show any incident of an obscene, indecent or im- 
moral nature, or anything gruesome, revolting or disgusting, should be elim- 
inated, but if such scenes are essential to the story and if these scenes 
are not of undue length and do not predominate, they may be approved, S^ch. 
scenes should have a significance in the story and act be used merely as a 
farce or burlesque t an occasion for nastiness or indecency. 

Prolonged Love Scenes* 

These should be treated truthfully and not lengthened and cheapened to 
the extent of losing their significance* 

Costuming and insufficient Clothing* 

The dress of characters must comply with existing standards of propri- 
ety and not be used for purposes or evil suggestion* Views of characters 
in one-piece bathing suits, where obviously used for suggestive purposes 
or simply to display the figure, woulpl be condemned* Excessively short 
skirts for the purpose of displaying the legs, or gowns cut low for sug- 
gestive purposes must be eliminated* Frank exposure of the person may be 
less objectionable than partial exposure* 

Infidelity and Sex Problem Scenes * 

Pictures that cast discredit on the marriage vow, or comedies that 
emphasize loose relations, are Immoral and either should be condemned, or 
objectionable parts eliminated* 

Problems of sex are not considered by the Board a legitimate subject 
for motion- pictures, and should be treated with seriousness and reserve. 

Sexual degeneracy, based on the antics of a pervert, or any picture 
involving degeneracy as a theme must be condemned altogether* 

Underworld Scenes, Opium Dens, Ob jectionalxle Dances , 
Questionable Resorts * 

Scenes which show any incident of an obscene, indecent or immoral na- 
ture, or anything gruesome, revolting or disgusting, should be eliminated. 
When scenes of this type are necessary to the 'story, they will be required 
to be truthful and complete, and portrayed in such a manner that no one 
would be led to similar adventure, but would see the sordidness and commer- 
cialism on which these scenes rest. 

Pictures which represent .falsely the facts of life should be condemned, 
but It does not follow that a picture that is truthful or which depicts any 
aspect of life as it really Is should be passed* 

Complete knowledge of truth can never be given in a picture, but only 
a partial "vision* Vice and immorality of life often apparently triumph, and 
lead most enjoyable existences as portrayed to the eye. Such scenes should 
be eliminated* It is impossible to define the influence such distorted vi- 
sions may have on a young life, or to illustrate to the youth the final con- 
sequences of* an evil life. 



Vulgarity In Pictures . 



Page 23* 

Obscenity, immorality or indecency must be eliminated* Actions by char- 
acters or situations of a decidedly suggestive nature, appealing to low mor- 
als or scenes that would familiarize and accustom the mind of young persons' 
with the same, must be eliminated* 

(same scenes in detail). Eliminate :- 

1. Suggestive subtitles where they refer to the passions or implied 
immoral situations, 

2. Scenes of the nude on walls or pictures of same where used for 
suggestion* 

3. Or shorten to a flash scenes of girls in cabarets, ballet dan- 
cers, dressing room scenes, bedroom scenes in night clothes, or similar 
scenes where there is the attempt to be vulgar* 

4* Peering through the keyhole at men or women undressed* 

5. Raising of women's skirts by men, or by the new stunt of air suc- 
tion* 

6. Loose pants or skirts not properly fastened, or ready to fall* All 
indecent displaying or fondling of underclothes or night clothes* 

7* Close up views of nude men and women swimming just under water* 
Nude persons in bath tubs unless scene merely shows the head* 

5 Suggestive rolling on women in slap-stick, and other farces and 
comedies* 

9. The act of a woman sitting on a man even though party is dressed 
as a man. 

10* Excessive and suggestive wriggling of the body whether of a man 
or a woman* 

11* Suggestive placing of legs over the knees of woman or suggestive 
actions while a woman sits on the lap of a man, or vice-versa* 
12* Girls putting their hands in men's trouser pockets* 
13* Making comedy of women's hips, legs or busts* 

14 ♦ Scenes where men take hold of girls' ankles or legs with a leer 
or where men are looking lustfully at a woman's form in a way to attract at- 
tention to display of person* 

15. Man or wife or person of opposite sex in bed together ► 

16* All suggestive actions or looks at statues or the draping of the 

same. 

17. The close up views of dead people, or the treatment of wounds* 

18. Spitting in another's face. 

Section 3* 

Crimes Against Property or Person . 

The fact that the motion picture is more vivid than the printed page 
naturally alters the question of how much detail can be shown the public* 
For instance, a printed description of a burglary or other crime, suffer- 
ing, gruesomeness and evil-doing has not the same effect upon people as 
when the very act is performed before their eyes* Undue and lengthy detail 
of the above crimes should be eliminated* 

Suicide is so irreparable a crime and becomes so suggestive to some 
people that it must at all times be eliminated* 

insane characters, portrayed in such manner as to harrass the emotion 
and influence even of normal persons, should be eliminated* 

Section 4* 



This section involves the application of Section 3, regarding elimina- 
tion of crimes of violence against persons and animals, especially in refer- 



Page 24* 

ence to cruelty* Eliminate — , 

I, Torture scenes, exhibitions of murder, assassinations, hangings or 
other executions* 

2* Close-up views of horrid, or bruised or mutilated faces, or faces 

showing agony or suffering* 

3* The struggles of drowning people, and the close-up views of dead 
people*s faces, floating in the .water* 

4* Struggle and choking scenes when carried to the point of extreme 
brutality* 

5* Branding of animals or people in close-up views* 
Section 5* 

Exhibits Method's of Committing Crime, 

■uggestive and instructive and ingenious criminal methods must not be 
exploited and if introduced must be eliminated* Eliminate — 

1* The cutting of a purse from a woman's arm or showing how to open 
and extract money or valuables from a purse* 

2* The tampering with or opening of doors, windows or safes by using 
tools or instruments* 

3, The cutting of telephone or telegraph wires* 

4* Tampering with railroad ties or rails for the purpose of wrecking 
trains* 

5* Placing of funnels or tufees with bulbs attached, in key holes for 
the purpose of sending fumes or medicine into the room to produce-' asphyxia- 
tion or acute sickness* 

5* Actual chloroforming of persons, thai, is the detail of using the 
chloroform, or the act of using or displaying a: hypodermic needle in any- 
suggestive manner for crime* 

7* All subtitles or scenes where it is implied that a woman is in a 
delicate condition and is contemplating or planning to or does visit a doc- 
tor for purpose of an operation* 

8* The setting and lighting of bombs where it is done for the purpose 
of destroying life or property* 

9* The exhibition of methods of using poison, drugs, knockout drops 
and sleeping powders* Also the snuffing of cocaine or other drugs, smoking 
opium, etc* 

10* Effects of habit-forming drugs, unless portrayed in a serious edu- 
cational manner* 

II, The* detail of obtaining such drugs by easy methods* 

1&* The presentation. of names of habit-forming drugs, either on labels 
of bottles or by subtitles* 

13* Arson in any of its various forms, throwing of oil, gasoline, etc* 
lighting of paper or waste to set a fire* CThis suggestion of crime is a pub- 
lic menace)* 

14. All scenes of -exchanging money, as if in payment for a girl* 
15* All scenes depicting blackmail* 

16* Gambling scenes that are introduced merely for entertainment, or 
that show in elaborate and instructive detail the paraphernalia and methods 
of gambling* These are always questionable and should be eliminated* It 
should be kept in mind that gambling is illegal., and lifce other crimes, 
should be shown only when essential to the story and without detail* 



RACE PREJUDICE, SACRILEGE, AND ALLIED SUBJECTS* 



^ Page 25* 

Reverence is general and all sacred forces should be carefully respect- 
ed* 

Ho picture which in effect as a whole or in part, holds up to ridicule> 
any religious sect, sacred thing or rite, should be passed, or if so all 
objectionable scenes unduly emphasized should first be eliminated* 

This also applies to scenes that portray in ari objectionable manner 
any race of people or national characteristic* 

Although there is quite a uniformity of ideals in American national 
life-political and social - yet there is always some local, recognized col- 
oring or prejudice* 

It is possible that these differences might have undue emphasis or in 
case of national difference the treatment might become libelous* of 

In such instances the portrayal must be considered as sub ject/censor- 
ship, but bust be interpreted with due regard to any sectional, national, or 
class prejudice, and at all times free from preconceived bias or taste of 
the viewer* 

Disrespect for law or public, officers, enforcing same, whether in act- 
ion or subtitle or suggestion, must be eliminated* This would involve ridi- 
cule of law enforcement or burlesque of an apparent miscarriage of justice* 

Lengthy portrayal of riot scenes should be shortened to mere fact or 
event of current news* 



AN ORDINANCE 

REGULATING THE EXHIBITION AND CENSORSHIP OR NOTION PICTUH&a 
IN THE CITY" OF CHICAGO 

Reprinted from the Revised Chicago Municipal Code of 1931, 
Sections 1950 to 1961, inclusive (pages 767-771). 

ARTICLE V 

MOVING PICTURE THEATRES 

1950* Lighting — exit signs * Every portion of a moving picture theater, 
including exits, courts and corridors, devoted to the Use or accommodation 
of the public shall be so lighted by electric light during all exhibitions 
and until the entire audience has left the premises that a person with nor- 
mal, eyesight shall be able to read Snellen standard test type 40 at a dis- 
tance of twenty feet and type 30 at a distance of 10 feet; normal eyesight 
meaning ability to read type 20 at a distance of 20 feet in daylight* Cards 
showing types 20, 30, and- 40 should be displayed in the corridor of every 
such theater together with a copy of this section. 

Any person, firm or corporation that violates, neglects or refuses to 
comply with, or that resists or opposes the enforcement of this section 
shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than two hundred 
dollars for each offense, and every such person, firm or corporation shall 
be deemed guilty of a separate offense for every day on which such viola- 
tion, neglect or refusal shall continue* 

I95I* goving picture billboards* It shall te the duty of the proprietor, 
operator or manager of every theater or other place of amusement in the city 
open to the public in which Motion pictures are produced to exhibit on a 
billboard, placed in front of the building -or other structure in which such 
show is given and such motion pictures are exhibited, the title to tw« 
tures, wMeh title 3haU either be fuU Qnough ^ J^J^^ 



page 26* 

the nature and character of the picture or pictures to be shown, or shall 
be accompanied by other explanatory wording, pictures or other advertising 
matter to so describe the said picture or pictures* No such proprietor ,a- 
perator or manager shall place, maintain or allow to be placed or main- 
tained in front of or in connection with any such theater or other place of 
public amusement any sign, picture or o-ther announcement which in any man- 
ner misstates or misrepresents the ^pictures or other amusements which are 
being- shown in said place or which announces a picture or other form of a- 
musement or entertainment which is not, at the time such announcement is 
displayed,' being shown and exhibited in said theater or other place or a- 
musement* 

Any person, being such proprietor, agent or manager of any theater or 
other place of amusement in the city open to the public, failing- or refusing 
to comply with the provisions of" this section shall, on conviction thereof, 
be fined not less than ten dollars nor more than fifty dollars, and each day 
that any such theater or other place of amusement is operated without the 
exhibition of such a statement of the title of the pictures being shown or 
that a sign is displayed which in any manner misrepresents the amusement be- 
ing offered or announces amusements which are not at the time being offered, 
shall be a separate offense* 

195B* Permit required to exhibit moving pictures - Jt shall be unlaw- 
ful for any person, firm or corporation to show or exhibit in a public 
piece, or in a place where the public is admitted, anywhere in the city of 
Chicago any picture or series of pictures of the classes or kinds commonly 
known in mutoscopes, kinetoscopes, cinematographs and such pictures or ser- 
ies of pictures as are commonly shown or exhibited in so-called penny ar- 
cades, and in all other automatic or moving picture devices, whether an ad- 
mission fee is charged" or not, without- first having secured a permit there- 
for from the commissioner of police* 

It shall be unlawful for. any person, firm or corporation to lease or 
transfer, or otherwise put into circulation, any motion picture plates, 
films, rolls or other like articles or apparatus from which a series of 
pictures for public exhibition can be produced, to any exhibitor of motion 
pictures, for the purpose of exhibition within the city, without first ha- 
ving secured a permit therefor from the commissioner of police* 

1953* Application for permit -Before any such permit is granted, -an ap- 
plication in writing shall be made therefor, and the plates, films, rolls 
or other like apparatus by or from which such picture or series of pictures 
are shown or produced, or the picture or series of pictures itself as shown 
or exhibited, shall be shown to the commissioner of police, who shall in- 
apect such plates, films, rolls or apparatus or such picture or series of 
pictures, or cause them to be inspected, and within three days after such 
inspection he shall either grant or deny the permit* In case a permit is 
granted it shall be in writing and in such form as the commissioner of po- 
lice may prescribe* 

1954. Immoral pictures - permit not to be granted special permit * 
If a picture or series of pictures, for the showing or exhibition of which 
an application for a permit is made, is immoral or obscene, or portrays de- 
pravity, criminality or lack of virtue of a class of citizens of any race, 
color, creed or religion and exposes them to contempt, derision or obloquy, 
or tends to produce a breach of the peace or riots, or purports to repre- 
sent any hanging, lynching or burning of a human being, it* shall be the duty 
of the commissioner of police to refuse such permit, otherwise it shall be 
his duty to grant such permit* 

In case the commissioner of police shall refuse to grant a permit as 



page 27, 

Hereinbefore provided the applicant for same may appeal to the mayor; such 
appeal shall be presented in the same manner as the orginal application to 
the commissioner of police* The action of the mayor on any application for 
a permit shall be final* 

In all cases where a permit for the exhibition of a picture or series 
of pictures has been refused under the provisions of section 1954 hereof 
because the same tends towards creating a harmful ; impress ion on the minds 
of children, where such tendency as to the minds of adults would not exist 
if exhibited only to persons of mature age, the commissioner of police may 
grant a special permit limiting the exhibition of such picture or series 
or pictures to persons over the age of twenty-one years: provided, such 
picture or pictures are not of such character as to tend to create contempt 
or hatred for any class of law abiding citizens. 

1955* Penalty* Whenever a special permit has been Issued for the ex- 
hibition of a picture or series of pictures limited to persons of twenty- 
one years or over, as provided for in the preceding section, it shall be 
unlawful for any person, firm or corporation exhibiting same to allow any 
persons under the age of twenty-one years to enter the place where seme is 
being exhibited or to remain in said place while any part of said picturee 
or series of pictures is being shorn* Any person, firm or corporation vio- 
lating the provisions of this section shall be fined not less than ten dol- 
lars nor more than twenty-five dollars for each offense, and the admission 
of each person under twenty-one years of ac;e, or permission to remain of 
such person under twenty-one years of age, shall constitute a distinct and 
separate offense; and in addition thereto the mayor may, in his- discretion, 
revoke the license of any person, firm or corporation conducting a -theater 
where the provisions of this section are violated* 

1956* ITo transfer of objectionable films > m case a permit shall be 
refused for any such moving picture plates, films, rolls or other like art- 
icles or apparatus from which a series of pictures for public exhibition 
can be produced, it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation 
to lease or transfer the same to any exhibitor of moving pictures or other- 
wise put same into circulation for purposes of exhibition r: i thin the city*. 

1957* Confiscation - penalty* This section was repealed by the Chicago 
City council on f'ay 10, 1933* (Proceedings of the City Council, page 154*) 

1958* Fee for permit * The permit herein provided for shall be ob- 
tained for each and every picture or series of pictures exhibited, and 
shall be required in addition to any license or other imposition now re- 
quired by law or ordinance* The fee for the original permit in each case 
shall be three dollars for each one thousand lineal feet of film or fract- 
ion thereof* and for each duplicate or print thereof an additional fee of 
one dollar for each one thousand lineal feet of film or fraction thereof, 
which fee shall be t>aid to the city collector before any permit is issued* 
Such permit shall be granted^ only after the motion picture film for which 
said perm-it is requested has been produced at the office of the commission- 
er of police in the city hall for examination or censorship* 

1959* Notice of transfer or lease delivery of permit * When a permit 
to show a picture or series of pictures is once granted to an exhibitor 
the picture or series of pictures may be shown by any other exhibitor; pro- 
vided, that the written permit is actually delivered to such other exhi- 
bitor and that a written notice of the transfer or lease to such other ex- 
hibitor is first duly mailed b£ the transferee or lessee to the commission 



page 28* , 

er of police*. Any number- of transfers or leases of the same picture or- ser- 
ies of pictures may be made, provided always that the permit is actually de- 
livered to the transferee or lessee and that such written notice be first %. 
mailed to the general commissioner of police,. Said written notice shall con- 
tain the name and a brief description of the picture or series of pictures, 
the number of the permit:^ the location of the building or place where the 
transferee or lessee proposes to exhibit such picture or series of pictures* 
The exhibition by a transferee or lessee of any permitted picture or series 
of pictures without first mailing such notice shall be considered a viola- 
tion of this article and a separate offense shall be regarded as having 
been committed for each day*s exhibition by a transferee or lessee. of each 
picture or series of pictures without the mailing of such notice* 

I960* Posting of permit , The written permit herein provided for shall 
be posted at or near the entrance of - the theater, hall, room or place where 
any permitted picture or series of pictures is being exhibited, at such a 
place and in such a position' that it may easily and readily be read by any 
person entering such theater, hall, room or plaoe at any time when any such 
permitted picture or series of pictures is being exhibited whether in the 
day time or in the night time* The exhibition of any such permitted picture 
or series of pictures without the posting of the permit as herein provided 
shall be considered a violation of this section, and a separate and dis- 
tinct offense shall be regarded as having been committed for each day's ex- 
hibition of any such picture or series of pictures without the posting of 
the permit as herein provided* 

1961* Penalty * Anyone exhibiting any picture or series of pictures 
contrary to the provisions of this article" or without a permits having been 
obtained therefor, as required by this article, shall be fined not less 
than fifty dollars nor more than one hundred dollars for each offense* A 
separate and distinct offense shall be regarded as having been committed 
for each day r s exhibition of each picture or series of pictures without a 
permit* Any person violating or neglecting to comply with any provision 
of this article where no other penalty is provided, shall be fined not 
less than five dollars now more" than two hundred dollars f or' eaeh offense. 



CENSOR OP MOVING PICTURES* 

Questions tTSed by City of Chicago 
Civil Service Commission in Exam- 
ination Held June 2, 1914* 



Special Subject* (Oral, height 2; Written, height 2*) 

1* HThy is censorship of moving pictures desirable? 
2* Discuss its principal advantages* 

3*. (a.) Name four types of scenes which you would consider object- 
ionable for general exhibition, giving reasons therefor* 
Cb) Under what conditions and in what relation, if any, could 
the above scenes be shown? 

4* Bo you consider the censorship of moving pictures different 



page 29* 

from censorship of the stage or literature? Give reasons^ 

5*. What are the general provisions of the ordinance covering the ex-* 
hibition of moving pictures? 



Report and PenmansMp*. 
Candidates Will Be Shown A Selected Film* 

During exhibition of film you will be permitted to make such note3 and 
memoranda as desired* 

ITpon completion of exhibition candidates will return immediately to 
examination room and prepare a paper upon the film reviewed.. 

(a) Write a brief synopsis of the story portrayed by the film* 

(b) Analyze the film with regard to its respective ' merits and demer- 
its for exhibition purposes, and express jrour opinion thereon* 

(c) Critieizre the film and make suggestions for cutting out such sec- 
tions or scenes as you may deem advisable, in each case giving your reason 
for 6uch action* 

(No penalty will be given for improper cutting out, but marking will 
be based on reasoning and judgment shown In each case*) 

(In. the grading of this paper clearness of expression* directness of 
statement, and composition will be taken into account*) 



Special subject? 

1* Why Is censorship desirable? 

2* Discuss Its principal advantages as you understand them* 

Scheme for HarKing Oral Examination*, 

C&ndictates to be graded on: Appearance, readiness of address, apti- 
tude,manner of answering, and correctness of answer to question* 

An average good answer under the above conditions to have a value or: 



A- 80 




C-60 


ffl - 


83 


D-50 


+2 - 


85 


E-40 


43 - 


88 




B-70 






+1 - 


73 




42 - 


75 




43 - 


78 





Experience* 

1* What grammar schools, have you. attended? 

2* What high school have you attended,? (.(Jive name of school, period of 
attendance, and year of graduation*) 

3*. What college, if any, did you attend? (State course of study pur- 



Page 30* 

sued, period of attendance, and year of graduation*) 
4. (a) 

What experience have you had as a censor or critic of art, drama, lit- 
erature or moving pictures? (b) What experience have you had in social ser- 
vice, settlement, civic or welfare work? (Answer in detail, giving dates, 
location, nature and character and duration of such work; name of organ- 
ization under whose jurisdiction' or supervision such work was done.) 

5* .What experience have you had in literary, art or dramatic work?(ans- 
wer in detail*) 

6» What business experience or training have you had involving the exer- 
cise of individual judgment, personal responsibility, or responsibility 
for the action, instruction or wofk of bther persons?(Anser in detail, 
giving names. of all employers and nature of work done during the past 
five years.) 

7. How old are you? (Give age and date of birth^) 

8» State any other experience which in your opinion would tend to qual- 
ify you for this position notcovered by the foregoing questions* 

9, What language other than English do you write and speak? 



Examination - CENSOR OF MOVING PICTURES, BRANCH III, 
CLASS O, GRADE 3. June 28,1920. 



Subject SPECIAL SUBJECT. 



1. What is the meaning of the word "immoral" as applied to the motion pic- 
tures? 

2. What is a riotous picture as contemplated by the ordinance? 

3. What sort of a motion picture would tend to create contempt or hatred 
for a particular class of law abiding citizens? 

4» Would you sanction the showing of a writhing snake prominently in a 
motion picture scene? 

5» Should a picture be shown that depicts a person administering a hypo- 
dermic which results in death? Give reasons. 

6. Would it be harmful to any class of people to exhibit a scene on the 
screen showing a burglar opening a money safe by either drilling or by the 
use of explosives and effacing all evidences of finger prints? 



Subject 



REPORT 



Page 31w 

Write an -official report to the General Superintendent of Police sta- 
rting your conclusions and recommendations on a picture showing a party of 
three" ladies and three gentlemen on a slumming expedition* 



Examination CENSOR OF MOVING PICTURES*, ' BRANCH' III, CLASS 0, 

GRADE 3, September 15, 1923- 



Subject -~ EXPERIENCE 

NOTE": Statements as to training and experience are 
accepted subject to verification* 

1. What is your age? 

2*. Submit a complete statement of your general education and training* 
Give the names of * the schools at which you have studied, the length of 
attendance with dates and the certificates, diplomas or degrees., if any 
were received by you* 

3. Submit a statement of any special training that you have had which 
would tend to fit you for this position. In this connection it is de- 
sired, that the applicant explain any courses of reading or other special 
courses that he has pursued* 

4*. Submit a complete statement of your employments or business or pro- 
fessional experience, giving the names and addresses of your employers., 
with dates, the exact nature of your duties with each, salaries received 
and reasons for making any change. 

5* State any other facts regarding your education or experience which 
would tend to show your fitness for the position of Censor of Moving Pic- 
tures. 

6. Have you served in the United States Army or Navy or the United 
States Marine Corps? Have you served in the Medical or Surgical or Nur- 
sing Service or in the Public Health Service of the United States? If you 
have served in any one of the above services, give the name of the vessel 
or regiment and company in which you served, tell in what capacity you 
served and give the' date of enlistment and date of discharge* 

Subject SPECIAL SUBJECT 

1» Check the films in the following list whibh you have seen and oppo- 
site, each enter the initial M for moral, D for doubtful, and I for immoral 
You should have in mind the point of view of the youth in making these de- 
cisions. 



Lorn a Do one 
Bella Donna 
The Common Law 



Page 32* 

When Knighthood was in Flower 

Oliver Twist 

Robin Hood 

Enemies or Women 

The Cheat 

Trilby 

The Kid 

The Sfceifr 

Broken Blossoms 

Ashes of Vengeance 

The Birth of a Nation* 

l*(a) Check the titles in the following list of books which you. have read 
or concerning which $rou have a Judgment and indicate opposite each the in- 
itial M for moral, D for doubtful and I for immoral. 

West of the Water Tower 
The Moon calf 
Scaramouche 
Three Weeks 
Black Oxen 

(b) Add two from your own recent readings and comment an thenu 

3.. List ten different types of action or behavior that should not be 
featured and treated in detail on the screen* 

4* Describe briefly in from fifty to seventy -five words ten situationa 
that you would call "immoral * from the point of view of the City Ordinance, 

5, What officials have the power to refuse permits? 

6+ Explain what you consider the essential difference between the effect 
of a film on the mind of the child, the adolescent and that of the adult, 
from the standpoint of mental reactions, 

7, What in your mind is the value of censorship, if any?* 

8- (a) Should books that are not allowed in general circulation in the 
Public Library be filmed and exhibited"?' 
(b) Give reasons for your answer. 



Subject REPORT 



Candidates will be shown a film* 

During the exhibition of the film you will be permitted to make notes 
as desired. 

Upon, the completion of the exhibition, candidates will return immed- 
iately to the examination room. 

You are requested to write a brief synopsis of the picture shown and 
to criticize it with regard to its value for exhibition purposes* 

Tou are also requested to make any suggestions for the eliminating 



Page 33 



of sections, scenes, titles or subtitles, if in your opinion -such cutting 
out seems advisable. Give in each instance your reasons for such elimina- 
tion. 



Examination — CEIiSOft OF MOVING PICTURES IK CfiAfiGE, Branch III, Class 0, 



Subject — fiEPOftT 



In not less than five hundred words, describe and comment on the plot 
of any film you have recently seen. 



Subject — SPECIAL SUBJECT 
Subject — DUTIES 



1 and 2. Give in detail the substance of the ordinance under which 
censorship of moving pictures is exercised in Chicago. 

3. What is the National Board of Censorship of Motion Pictures? 
What is its authority and function? 

Why is it necessary to have any other censorship? 

4. What results, good or bad, have been obtained thus far by censor- 
ship, as you have observed it? 

5. On what grounds is prepublication censorship of moving pictures 
justified when it is not applied to books, plays, et cetera? Give your 
reasons at length. 

6. and 7. Discuss the policy of excluding minors from the exhibition 
of films which are thought to be suitable for adults only. 

8. Give the names of five books which you have read in the past year 
and indicate in brief form their plots and suitability, or otherwise, for 
motion pictures. 

9. flow would you deal with historical films involving murder, theft, 
disrespect for authority, contempt of any race or creed? 

10. Indicate the provision in the ordinance which might be violated 
by a too realistic portrayal of the characters of Joan of Arc, Major Andre, 
Salome. 



Grade 4, January 20, 1926. 




Page 34 

Examination — CEMSOR OF 1AOVIJNG PICTURES, Br.III, CI. 0, Gr.3, Nov. 10,1926. 

Subject — Special Subject (Oral): Judgment, tact, personality. 

In your opinion, is official censorship the best solution of the 
moving picture problem? 

Have you read the ordinance? Outline its chief points. 



Subject — Special Subject: Practical Test. 

Candidates will be shown a film. During the exhibition of the film 
you will be permitted to make notes as desired. 

Upon completion of the exhibition, candidates will return immediately 
to the examination room. 

iou are requested to write a synopsis of the picture shown and to cri- 
ticize it with regard to its value for exhibition purposes. 

If in your judgment any scene or sub-title is unfit for exhibition 
purposes you will recommend rejection, stating clearly your reasons therefor. 

Observe the following order in making your report on the production 
shown: 

a) Title 

b) Analysis 

c) Scenes or sub- titles, if any, believed to be questionable, with 
reasons, and disposition of same. 

(d) Recommendations - for passing, rejection or passing with elimina- 
tions to be designated. Give reasons. 

In marking this paper, the use of English and spelling will receive due 
consideration. 

This paper should be clear and concise and should touch upon all the 
points mentioned, In the order given. 

mim ?icvm Qmm 

DUTIES ; Under general supervision, to observe all motion pictures proposed 
to be exhibited in the city with a view to insuring compliance with ordin- 
ances and standards of morality; to direct the elimination of objectionable 
portions of films; to make investigations of theatres in order to determine 
whether ordered cuts have been made; to see that permits have been issued; 
to maintain records of films observed and of permits issued; to gather evi- 
dence of violations and to assist in the prosecution of cases; and to per- 
form related work as required. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS : Either (l) education equivalent to that represent- 
ed by graduation from a senior high school and two years of successful ex- 
perience in social service or related work, or (2) any equivalent combina- 
tion of education and experience; thorough knowledge of modern social ser- 
vice practices; knowledge of the laws, ordinances and regulations pertaining 
to censoring of motion pictures; high moral standard; reliability; mental 
alertness; good judgment; tact; integrity. 



•r'BRARY OF CONGRESS 



041 112 020 A 



I HflHfS^HNHIHI R f ss ' 
041 112 020 A 



